Research On The Status Quo And Problems Of Social Support For The Elderly Living Alone In Urban Areas

With the economic and social transformation and the increasingly severe aging of the population,the elderly living alone in urban areas and mental health problems need urgent attention.This is not only related to the quality of life of the elderly living alone,but also to the normal operation of the entire family.It is also related to the stability and development of the society as a whole,because the family is the most basic part of society.According to my field survey,elderly people living alone in their later years need four types of social support: economic support,life support,emotional support and social interaction support.From the perspective of social support theory and empowerment theory,this paper fully understands various problems existing in the life of the elderly living alone in urban areas through field investigation,and obtains first-hand information about the living situation of the elderly living alone in urban areas through in-depth interview and participant observation.I sorted out the interview content and analyzed the real needs and inner thoughts of the interviewed old people as much as possible.On this basis,I put forward my views and hope to provide valuable research findings and policy recommendations for relevant institutions and social organizations.My field research shows that formal support and informal support play different roles in economic support,life support,emotional support and social interaction support,while formal support plays a major role in economic support for elderly living alone.In life support,emotional support and social communication support,informal social support plays a more important role,especially in social communication support,the role of neighbors and colleagues is greater than that of the children and relatives of the elderly living alone,which is beyond my previous expectation.Relevant social work organizations should actively organize various types of activities at the community level so that elderly people living alone can fully integrate into the community,establish positive interpersonal relationships and give them spiritual attention and support.And these jobs,more need professional social workers intervention,take the door and one on one way,give them life and spiritual help.